Palermo — Travelrags

Condé Nast TravelerSep 15, 2026

The Best Beaches in Italy, From Sicily to Puglia

Whether you're headed for the shores of Sicily, Tuscany, or Liguria, here’s where to go, how to get there—and where to stay.

24 things in this story

Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte HotelHotelGorgeous hotel in Palermo.
Elsewhere
Spiaggia dei ConigliSightLampedusa, ItalyBeach facing an islet originally named Rabit Island.
Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, PortofinoHotelPortofino, ItalyGorgeous, ultra-luxe stay with sea views.
La PelosaSightStintino, ItalyBeach beloved for its offshore castle and wading.
Punta ProsciuttoSightLecce, ItalyBeach with crystalline water and fine sand.
La FiermontinaHotelLecce, ItalyStylish refuge in Lecce with vaulted ceilings.
Masseria Donna MengaHotelLecce, ItalyRomantic and refined luxury.
Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand HotelHotelAtrani, ItalyReimagined monastery stay with sea views.
Palazzo Ferraioli Hotel & Wellness CenterHotelAtrani, ItalyOffers sea views and a full-service spa.
San FruttuosoSuburbGenoa, ItalySecret bay reached by hiking or ferry.
Il Lecchio Luxury ResortHotelGenoa, ItalyElevated farm stay.
Scala dei TurchiSightAgrigento, ItalyRocky cliff with a beach of fiery bronze sands.
Verdura ResortHotelAgrigento, ItalyClassy stay with Mediterranean Sea views.
Scala Dei Turchi ResortHotelRealmonte, ItalySun-soaked stay in Realmonte.
Castello Aragonese d'IschiaSightIschia, ItalyCastle situated on an outcropping of rocks.
Spiaggia di CitaraSightForio, ItalyBeach with soft sand, clear waters, and verdant landscape.
Giardini Poseidon TermeSightForio, ItalyThermal bathing park with over 20 pools.
Semiramis Hotel de Charme IschiaHotelForio, ItalyColorful and close stay near Spiaggia di Citara.
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal SpaHotelForio, ItalyTop-tier and glamorous stay.
Villa Las Tronas Hotel & SpaHotelAlghero, ItalySaltwater pool and wellness treatments.
Park Hotel AsinaraHotelStintino, ItalySimple touch of luxury.
Cupola Bianca ResortHotelLampedusa, ItalyUnwinding in the pool or garden.
Sweet Dreams AirbnbHotelLampedusa, ItalyQuintessential Mediterranean rental.
Marasusa BeachSightTropea, ItalyHome to scenic cliffs, white sand, and clear waters.

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The GuardianSep 11

‘I never imagined such pleasure could be had from the simple sardine’: readers’ favourite foodie experiences in Europe

Your top culinary discoveries, from Bled cake in Slovenia to sardines in Portugal and seafood soup in Spain • Tell us about autumn days out in the UK – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher Last August, the smoky aroma of grilled sardines drifting over the beach in Portimão woke me up from my sunbathing on the beach. Attracted by the aroma of barbecued fish, we found ourselves in the old por…

12 things in this story

Monte PellegrinoSightHiked to the top in 35C heat
panelleBakeryCrispy chickpea-flour fritters served in sesame bread
HaikuRestaurantVegan restaurant with reimagined classics
Elsewhere
Lake BledSightBled, SloveniaBeautiful alpine scenery
Sardine festivalFestivalPortimão, PortugalReenactment of fishing boats, concerts, dancing, cooking demos
heimablídniPlaceTórshavn, Faroe IslandsTraditional Faroese food served in a home with locals
kepta duonaRestaurantVilnius, LithuaniaDeep-fried rye bread with garlic and cheese
Land & MonkeysCaféParis, FranceBoulangeries/patisseries scattered across the capital
Rosarose BistrotRestaurantBologna, ItalyTables with red-checked cloths set in cobblestone road
Snail Feast of LleidaFestivalLleida, SpainCelebration of the tiny mollusc with music and dancing
Bled cakeRestaurantBled, SloveniaSumptuously smooth set custard in mille-feuille pastry
Sella RiverPlaceArriondas, SpainThe Sella is a river located in northwest Spain.

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Condé Nast TravelerAug 22

My Favorite Airbnb: A Beautifully Restored Watchtower on a Secret Slice of Sicily

The dreamiest stone sanctuary caught between the sky and the Sicilian sea.

5 things in this story

Palermo airportAirport35-minute drive to the secluded spot
Elsewhere
Tonnara Foderà di MagazzinazziHotelAlcamo, ItalyEarly 20th-century tuna fishery, now a guesthouse
Corso Giuseppe GaribaldiNeighborhoodCastellammare del Golfo, ItalyCentral street with cafes, boutiques, and bars
Tonnara di ScopelloAttractionScopello, ItalyHistoric tuna fishery turned museum and cove
Castello di VenereSightErice, Italy12th-century castle clinging to cliffside

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Lonely PlanetAug 20

The 10 best places to visit in Sicily

Fabulous beaches, storied cities, rural retreats and Europe’s largest volcano: Sicily has it all. Here’s where to go (and stay) on this storied island.

18 things in this story

Palazzo dei NormanniMuseumIt was the seat of the Kings of Sicily with the Hauteville dynasty and served afterwards as the main seat of power for…
Cappella PalatinaPlace of worshipA treasure of Norman architecture in Palazzo dei Normanni.
Monti MadonieTrailRugged mountains with medieval hilltop villages and exceptional cuisine.
Chiesa e Monastero di Santa Caterina d’AlessandriaSight
Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio SalinasMuseum
Elsewhere
DuomoRestaurantRagusa, ItalyBaroque church in Ragusa Ibla designed by Rosario Gagliardi.
Cattedrale di MonrealePlace of worshipMonreale, ItalySicily's finest example of Norman architecture with glittering gold mosaics.
Giardino della KolymbetraParkAgrigento, ItalyRomantic citrus grove within the Valley of the Temples.
Mt EtnaNature reserveCatania, ItalyEurope's largest active volcano, offering hiking and stunning views.
Aeolian IslandsNeighborhoodMilazzo, ItalySeven-island paradise for island-hopping, beaches, and wine tasting.
Casale DrinziHotelPetralia Soprana, ItalyAgriturismo farm stay with kitchens bursting with local ingredients.
Madonie ExplorersPlacePetralia Soprana, ItalyNature guides for exploring the Madonie mountains and harvesting manna.
Ragusa IblaNeighborhoodRagusa, ItalyBaroque labyrinth of streets with decorative masks and cherubs.
Palazzo Arezzo di TrifilettiAttractionRagusa, ItalyAristocratic palace from the baroque era in Ragusa Ibla.
Rifugio SapienzaSightCatania, Italy
Da AlfredoPubSalina, Italy
Pa.Pe.Rò al GlicineRestaurantRinella, Italy
Gelati DiViniIce cream shopRagusa, Italy

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Lonely PlanetAug 17

14 of the best things to do in Palermo, Sicily

Explore the best of Palermo

25 things in this story

AlbergheriaNeighborhoodDistrict with UNESCO-listed monuments and street life.
Mercato di BallaròMarketFood stalls in Palermo's oldest street market.
Palazzo dei NormanniMuseumPalace housing Byzantine mosaics.
Cattedrale di PalermoSightCathedral with a rooftop offering city panoramas.
Quattro CantiSightEpicenter of the old city, known as Teatro del Sole.
Chiesa del Carmine MaggiorePlace of worshipChurch with an eye-catching cupola and bell tower.
Chiesa del Gesù di Casa ProfessaPlace of worshipChurch blending baroque extravagance with frescoes.
Mercato del CapoMarketSouk-like market with alleys hiding museums and churches.
Mercato delle PulciMarketCity's busy flea market.
Piazza PretoriaSightFeatures the Fountain of Shame.
Fontana della VergognaSightMonumental fountain nicknamed 'Fountain of Shame'.
Chiesa e Monastero di Santa Caterina d’AlessandriaSightHospice-turned-convent with roof terraces and bakery.
I Segreti del ChiostroRestaurantMonastery's bakery known for cannoli.
Teatro BelliniTheatre18th-century theater on Piazza Bellini.
Piazza BelliniSightSquare hemmed in by three strikingly different churches.
Chiesa di Santa Maria dell’AmmiraglioSight12th-century church with surviving Norman mosaics.
Chiesa Capitolare di San CataldoSightEnchanting church with Arab-Norman detailing.
Casa StagnittaRestaurantVeteran coffee-house serving coffee, milkshakes, granita.
Altrove BarBarBar luring locals with Italian craft beer and cocktails.
St’ortoBarUnpretentious bar on Via Discesa dei Giudici.
Chiesa di San Giovanni degli EremitiPlace of worship12th-century Arab-Norman church with a walled garden.
Villa BonnanoSightGardens with palm-lined paths.
Bisso BistrotCafé
Ballarò neighborhoodNeighborhood
Elsewhere
Cattedrale di MonrealePlace of worshipMonreale, ItalyCathedral famed for 12th-century mosaics.

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Atlas ObscuraAug 11

19 Creepy Catacombs Around the World You Can Visit

Catacombs—underground rooms and tunnels used as cemeteries—date back to first-century Rome, but the most famous (and infamous) were created across Europe in the 17th century. Overcrowding in Paris’s more traditional burial spaces, as well as sanitation issues, led authorities to turn the miles of tunnels connecting quarries under the city into crypts. It’s believed that more than six million pe…

21 things in this story

Capuchin Monastery CatacombsSightNearly 8,000 corpses dressed in their Sunday best.
Elsewhere
Templo ExpiatorioPlace of worshipLeón, MexicoNeo-Gothic church providing entry to an underground world.
Catacombs of Washington, D.C.SightWashington, United StatesCreated by Franciscan monks to channel the Holy Land.
Petrovaradin FortressSightNovi Sad, SerbiaHidden underground military galleries, a four-story network.
Old St. Patrick’s CathedralSightNew York, United StatesCatacombs open to the public for candlelight tours.
Delmonico familyPlaceNew York, United StatesFounders of New York’s oldest surviving restaurant.
Sanità districtNeighborhoodNaples, ItalySite of Greek-era catacombs with oldest surviving Christian art.
St. Paul’s and St. Agatha’s catacombsSightRabat, MaltaHolds one of the finest surviving examples of an agape table.
Fontanelle Cemetery CavesSightNaples, ItalyCave complex used as a burial ground since the 1500s.
Santa Maria delle Anime del Purgatorio ad ArcoSightNaples, ItalyBegan burying Naples’s poor and unclaimed in 1638.
Catacombs at Templo ExpiatorioSightLeón, MexicoLabyrinth of catacombs formed from seven interconnected crypts.
Warstone Lane Cemetery CatacombsSightBirmingham, United KingdomTiered, semicircular catacombs resembling a Roman amphitheater.
Maltese Catacomb ComplexesSightRabat, MaltaComplex holds tombs for over 1,000 bodies.
Igreja de São Francisco CatacombsSightPorto, PortugalCatacombs hold tombs for members of the Franciscan order.
Ta’ Bistra CatacombsSightMosta, MaltaLargest catacomb complex found outside Rabat.
The Sacconi Rossi CryptSightRome, ItalyCrypt decorated with bones of deceased brothers.
The Catacombs of St. Peter’s AbbeySightSalzburg, AustriaServed as a sacred burial site and hermitage.
Melník Chapel of BonesSightMelnik, CzechiaVault holds exhumed bodies from plague-ridden cemeteries.
Klatovy Catacomb MummiesSightKlatovy, CzechiaVentilation system naturally mummified bodies.
Museum Romeinse Katakomben (Roman Catacombs Museum)MuseumValkenburg, The NetherlandsFaithful reproduction of Roman catacombs in a quarry.
Catacombes de ParisMuseumParis, FranceHolds remains of six to seven million Parisians.

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Lonely PlanetJul 15

The 8 destinations pro travelers say ruin all others

Sometimes a life-changing trip is just as damning as it is magnificent, ruining you for any trip you eventually take. These destinations are worth that sacrifice.

15 things in this story

SicilyNeighborhoodBeautiful island with kind people and great views.
Elsewhere
GreeceSightAthens, GreeceDestination that ruins all others.
Andes MountainsSightSantiago, ChileHigh mountains for skiing.
Laguna del IncaSightSantiago, ChileCrystal blue lagoon below the high Andes.
Maipo ValleyNeighborhoodSantiago, ChileBirthplace of Chilean wine.
MontanaNeighborhoodHelena, United StatesSummer destination for outdoor adventures.
YellowstoneSightGardiner, United StatesNational park in Montana.
Yasuní National ParkSightCoca, EcuadorAmazonian Ecuador park that brings visitors to tears.
Amazonian EcuadorNeighborhoodCoca, EcuadorEco-lodge with spider monkeys and paddle canoes.
El Questro StationSightEl Questro, AustraliaWestern Australia station with reds, greens, waterfalls.
Kimberley regionNeighborhoodBroome, AustraliaRegion in Western Australia with stark contrasts.
Ngorongoro CraterSightArusha, TanzaniaWorld's largest unbroken volcanic caldera with abundant animals.
CambodiaSightPhnom Penh, CambodiaAmazing people, food, and culture.
Aegean SeaSightAthens, Greece
Tonlé Sap LakeSightPhnom Penh, Cambodia

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Condé Nast TravelerJan 22

The Most Romantic Hotels in the Entire World

Whether you're looking for adventure, white-sand beaches, or fine dining, here’s where to stay for the ultimate romantic getaway.

24 things in this story

Villa IgieaHotelMasterclass in sophisticated elegance with outdoor terrace.
Elsewhere
Gritti PalaceHotelVenice, ItalyGrande dame of Venetian hospitality with canal views.
Hotel BalzacHotelParis, FranceModernist boutique with black marble and checkerboard tile.
KatikiesHotelSantorini, GreeceStunning views of the caldera and chic minimal design.
ChromataHotelSantorini, GreeceOffers private infinity pools.
ChromaRestaurantSantorini, GreeceCandlelit dining with local Santorini wine.
AnthósRestaurantSantorini, GreeceServes langoustine tartare and sea bass.
Grand Park RovinjHotelRovinj, CroatiaPerched above the Adriatic with views of Old Town.
OlivieraRestaurantCosta Navarino, GreeceTerrace offers milk cake and pistachio-studded yogurt.
TahirRestaurantCosta Navarino, GreeceServes wood-fired pizza and baba ghanoush.
Mandarin Oriental, Costa NavarinoHotelCosta Navarino, GreeceSuites and villas offer privacy and quiet luxury.
La ResidenciaHotelDeià, SpainRomantic retreat in Serra de Tramuntana foothills.
El OlivoRestaurantDeià, SpainOffers Mallorcan flavors for candlelit dinners.
Hotel MottoHotelVienna, AustriaIntimate hotel with 1920s Paris design flair.
Chez BernardRestaurantVienna, AustriaTop-floor bar with greenery for cocktails and classics.
Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection ResortHotelMykonos, GreeceResort with private beach on Ornos Bay.
Grand Hotel TremezzoHotelTremezzo, ItalyArt Nouveau retreat on Lake Como with floating pool.
La TerrazzaRestaurantTremezzo, ItalyDine on handmade pastas with shaved truffles.
TBarRestaurantTremezzo, ItalyTerrace for digestifs with a view.
ForestisHotelBressanone, ItalySpa retreat with minimal, nature-driven design.
Domaine des EtangsHotelMassignac, France13th-century château overlooking a serene lake.
Splendido, A Belmond HotelHotelPortofino, ItalyTimeless retreat above Portofino's glittering bay.
Six Senses Douro ValleyHotelLamego, PortugalWellness and wine amid vineyards.
Deplar FarmHotelHofsós, IcelandFormer farm on Troll Peninsula for quiet contemplation.

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Condé Nast TravelerJan 10

17 Best Things to Do in Sicily, the Melting Pot of the Mediterranean

From the remnants of ancient civilizations to the sweet-smelling street food spots to know about, these are the best things to do in Sicily.

19 things in this story

Aggean IslandsNeighborhoodIslands with pebbled beaches and impossibly blue plunge spots.
Elsewhere
Caffè SiciliaCaféNoto, ItalyLegendary coffee spot for Sicilian coffee pilgrimages.
Antica Dolceria BonajutoRestaurantModica, ItalySicily’s oldest chocolate factory, offering dark, rich chocolate.
Scala dei TurchiSightRealmonte, ItalyGeological head-turner with rippled formation and moonscape appeal.
Aeolian IslandsNeighborhoodLipari, ItalyEvocative, volcanic islands off the northeast coast.
La Foresteria PlanetaHotelMenfi, ItalyStay near Menfi for rigorous wine assessment.
Monaci Delle Terre NereHotelRandazzo, ItalyReimagined aristocratic villa and winery at Mount Etna's foot.
Mount EtnaNature reserveCatania, ItalyIt is located above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
Rifugio SapienzaPlaceNicolosi, ItalyBase for hiring guides to hike Mount Etna's southern side.
Zash Country Boutique Hotel and SpaHotelRiposto, ItalyReimagined Palmento smothered in citrus trees.
Palazzo PreviteraHotelLinguaglossa, ItalyGuesthouse retaining unkempt charm with wrought iron beds.
Corso Umberto INeighborhoodTaormina, ItalyStreet thrumming with boutiques, gelaterias, and cafés.
Greek amphitheaterSightTaormina, ItalyFamous second-century amphitheater with stunning views.
Belmond Hotel Grand TimeoHotelTaormina, ItalyHotel with glowy lanterns and smooth balustrade terraces.
Belmond Villa San’t AndreaHotelTaormina, ItalySister hotel offering country club-style beach set-up.
SampiereNeighborhoodIspica, Italy
Lungomare di CefalùNeighborhoodCefalù, Italy
Barone di VillagrandePlaceMilo, Italy
Benanti wineryPlaceViagrande, Italy

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